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    Parris Island Museum

    4.4 (17 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:30 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Parris Island Museum Photos

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    Joe J.

    Not a huge museum, but they do not waste any space. Theres a lot of history packed inside. It was cool to get to learn about the start and history of the corp. It was also nice to get guided through by my newly graduated marine. Not sure if this location is open to the public, but it's a great place to check out on family day and after graduation.

    Scott R.

    Can down to see the museum. Last time I was at Parris Island I was graduating boot camp some 29 years ago. Very easy to get on the base to see the museum. Just need a drivers license, registration and insurance for your vehicle.

    M1A1 Pack Howitzer, 75mm; one of several guns and displays to see at the Parris Island Museum.
    Mark C.

    In the heart of Parris Island Marine base is this museum, which offers a complete history of the area and the marine corp. Admission is free and visitors that wish to visit the museum need to let the guards at the gate to know (including showing ID). Some of the exhibits include uniforms throughout the marine corp history, all battles and wars that involved the marines and information about each and every one, archaeological items from the original Spanish and French colonies on the island, and various medals, statues, and models. This is probably one of the best kept secrets in the Beaufort area because its on the marine base, but it's easy to get too and free. Worth checking out.

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    10 months ago

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    13 years ago

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    5 years ago

    This museum is on the Parris Island Marine Training Base and not open to civilians. We went, but were turned away at the gate.

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Parris Island Museum

    Can somebody verify if the museum is open on Sundays? All online information states it's open daily, but I just called the museum with a different question and was asked when we planned to visit and then told the museum is closed on Sundays.

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    Review Highlights - Parris Island Museum

    In the heart of Parris Island Marine base is this museum, which offers a complete history of the area and the marine corp.

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    The Sandbox Children Museum

    The Sandbox Children Museum

    3.9(56 reviews)
    14.7 mi

    Interactive play. Go…read moreonline and make reservations if your children want to experience the museum. They fill up fast. You have morning and afternoon sessions available. There are both indoor and outdoor activities. You would have to see if it is a place your kids would want to play and learn.

    This is the second time my daughter and I took my granddaughter to the Sandbox Children's Museum…read more The first time we went, there were no issues at all. The little one had a great time and we felt very welcomed by the staff. However, this time we felt the experience was not as good and the main reason was because of the attitude & actions of some employees. First off, while we were checking in, the staff was not as friendly and helpful as they were on our previous visit. They had a bit of an attitude because we didn't make reservations before coming. We have a toddler- it's not always easy to preplan your whole day when you have a toddler. Reservations were not full so we were able to go right in. Later on, my granddaughter, who will be three in a month, wanted to play in the area marked for children two & under. At the time, there were no other children playing in that area, so we let her play. An employee walked by and asked how old she was. We told her and she rudely said that she had aged out and that she needed to leave that area. So we left the museum. We could understand if there were children younger than her playing there at the time, but there was no one else in there at all! And my granddaughter is a toddler, not a 6 or 8 year old child, for goodness sakes! It was silly. Use common sense and reasonable discretion when deciding when to enforce certain policies! But truly, the rude & condescending attitude of the employee is what made it so irritating. My daughter did reach out to the Executive Director to discuss the situation and received an apology, so we will give them another chance next time my daughter & granddaughter come to visit. The place is pretty small overall and I would not recommend for older kids as all of the exhibits/play spaces are limited and really geared for younger kids. I personally think $12 per person for admission is a bit much for what the place actually has to offer, but as long as my granddaughter is entertained, we are willing to pay it. She wil likely "age out of it" in a few years unless they add some new & more advanced exhibits/play areas.

    Photos
    The Sandbox Children Museum
    The Sandbox Children Museum - Castle/slide, Ship station, plane station, lighthouse air physics station, racing station

    Castle/slide, Ship station, plane station, lighthouse air physics station, racing station

    The Sandbox Children Museum

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    Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

    Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

    4.1(12 reviews)
    5.9 mi

    Located in Beaufort, SC, the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park is quite possibly one of…read morethe smallest historical parks under the jurisdiction of the National Parks Service. It's said to be spread out over 3 distinct sites in Beaufort County, but the main visitor center is housed in a single small brick building (formerly a firehouse) with several exhibits and is free of charge to visit. It's supposed to be open daily, but may be closed at random during a government shutdown, as was the case when I stopped by for a quick visit. Since it was closed, I only got to admire the brick exterior and a few placards placed out front. As I was already visiting Beaufort on a day trip, I wasn't overly disappointed, but may have been if I had made a trip from out of town to visit only to find it closed. If you are interested in history of the reconstruction era and find yourself in this part of South Carolina north of Savannah and Hilton Head, this small historic park might be worth a quick stop.

    What an interesting national park and museum! Very detailed exhibits on the reconstruction era and…read morea very cool gift shop. This is one of 3 reconstruction park locations - the other 2 are in close proximity to Beaufort. We also took a 1 hour tour with Park Ranger Emma who is extremely knowledgeable on the Reconstruction era and how Beaufort was somewhat of an "Experiment " on reconstruction.

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    Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
    Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
    Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

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    Coastal Discovery Museum

    Coastal Discovery Museum

    4.6(73 reviews)
    10.2 mi

    The end of a long day we decided to come here. It was just perfect for that after a long day but…read morestill something to do kind of activity. Wish we walked around more but as my son kept saying he was tired of walking lol. Of course he wasn't to tired to go check out the gift shop :P

    The Coastal Discovery Museum came up in a search of things to do on a rainy day in Hilton Head…read more While there is a museum component in the main house, much of the attractions are outdoors, so something to keep in mind should you visit when it's raining or when the weather isn't ideal. The outdoor component includes several boardwalks, sculptures, a butterfly enclosure, and gardens. It's meant to introduce you to the coastal ecosystem and marsh life, which makes it quite unique. Admission is complimentary and there's a decent amount of parking. The main house and museum (the Discovery House) I would rate a 3.5 out of 5 stars. The volunteers on hand do a good job in welcoming guests and introducing the site so that guests aren't just left to wander on their own. While the permanent exhibits explaining the local area, ecosystem, and history were decent, I felt the more modern artwork was quite underwhelming, with many of the works on display having price tags (leads me to believe it was amateur artwork for sale). It left me wishing the weather was nice so I could explore the grounds, but that wasn't meant to be as there was a downpour of rain outside. If you have free time in Hilton Head, I'd recommend a visit to the Coastal Discovery Museum, but probably moreso when the weather is nice so you can explore the grounds.

    Photos
    Coastal Discovery Museum
    Coastal Discovery Museum - Talking area.

    Talking area.

    Coastal Discovery Museum - Entrance to the museum is through this porch.

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    Entrance to the museum is through this porch.

    Graveface Museum - The grave face

    Graveface Museum

    4.7(94 reviews)
    30.2 mi

    Whoa, I was not prepared for how amazing this place was!…read more When we first arrived I thought it would be just kind of a silly tourist trap thing, but boy was I wrong! It is a very large collection of everything spooky, odd and strange! There are entire rooms focused on serial killers, such as Gacy, HH Holmes and Richard Ramirez. We were in there for a very long time and learned so much from the women running the tour. There was even a guy in our group who had been childhood friends with one of Gacy's victims, which was incredibly surreal and really hit home how real all of this was, and not just entertainment. They also have, or are going to have, another location in Chicago which is very exciting and I would definitely seek that out next time I am there. All in all a 10/10 experience.

    This museum was MUCH bigger than I anticipated. We spent about an hour and a half and easily could…read morehave spent another or so in there learning and listening to the gals educate the group. There was so much to read, so much to see, and so much to experience. This is a very dark museum so if you have a weak stomach, are faint of heart if easily disturbed I would not recommend. Even still you are heavily warned about what is in each room should you not want to see or experience something by the staff. They were so helpful!! Their regular price is $25 OR $50 for a two day pass, tshirt, tote (or a pin), and sticker. Absolutely great deal if you're wanting some merch. Very spooky, eerie, and overall an interesting time!

    Photos
    Graveface Museum - Heavens Gate

    Heavens Gate

    Graveface Museum - Two headed calf

    Two headed calf

    Graveface Museum - Grandpa Graveface. A real Odd Fellow.

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    Grandpa Graveface. A real Odd Fellow.

    Parris Island Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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